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Mondspiel
Knisternde Lesemomente für zwischendurch
Als Jessie in das Haus des Rockstars Dillon kommt, um auf dessen Kinder aufzupassen, ist sie sofort von dem geheimnisvollen Musiker gebannt. Zwischen den beiden entspinnt sich eine leidenschaftliche Affäre. Doch in dem düsteren Gemäuer spukt es…
Als Jessie in das Haus des Rockstars Dillon kommt, um auf dessen Kinder aufzupassen, ist sie sofort von dem geheimnisvollen Musiker gebannt. Zwischen den beiden entspinnt sich eine leidenschaftliche Affäre. Doch in dem düsteren Gemäuer spukt es…
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
241 people are currently reading
822 people want to read
About the author
Christine Feehan
156 books52.9k followersChristine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 100 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, GhostWalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series, Shadow Riders, Torpedo Ink and her Romantic Suspense novels. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.
Her series include:
The Dark Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/darkb...
The GhostWalker series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/ghost...
The Leopard Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/leopa...
The Shadow Series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/shado...
Torpedo Ink series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/torpe...
IN HER WORDS:
I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself. (www.christinefeehan.com)
Her series include:
The Dark Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/darkb...
The GhostWalker series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/ghost...
The Leopard Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/leopa...
The Shadow Series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/shado...
Torpedo Ink series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/torpe...
IN HER WORDS:
I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself. (www.christinefeehan.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
January 3, 2021
A very well written gothic style novel that's dramatic and intense, with a couple of paranormal elements and an old murder mystery that was never solved rearing its ugly head. Accidents are happening to the main characters for some strange reason. Our hero is badly scarred from a fire seven years ago that killed his wife and the heroine has looked after his 13 year old twins since birth, with the help of her mother, now deceased. So this story has beauty and the beast elements as well as phantom of the opera spookiness.
There's lots of steamy sex scenes in the second half of the story after a slow burn, second chance romance - or at least attraction that was never acted upon in the past because the heroine had been 18. I'm not sure why I didn't connect to this story as well as I should have. Their true characters - while there was was lots of information about them - seemed still a bit closed off and I found it easy to pick up and put down the book. this is one of this author's earlier books and you can see why she now writes mostly paranormal. Lots of thought went into this story. I liked it and was on the verge of loving it. 3.5 stars.
There's lots of steamy sex scenes in the second half of the story after a slow burn, second chance romance - or at least attraction that was never acted upon in the past because the heroine had been 18. I'm not sure why I didn't connect to this story as well as I should have. Their true characters - while there was was lots of information about them - seemed still a bit closed off and I found it easy to pick up and put down the book. this is one of this author's earlier books and you can see why she now writes mostly paranormal. Lots of thought went into this story. I liked it and was on the verge of loving it. 3.5 stars.
July 19, 2020
3.5 ⭐️ stars.
It was written beautifully with likable characters but the mystery could’ve been written better. The motive wasn’t solid or neatly explained ..for me atleast.
But the spooky aspect was good.
Recommended and safe.
It was written beautifully with likable characters but the mystery could’ve been written better. The motive wasn’t solid or neatly explained ..for me atleast.
But the spooky aspect was good.
Recommended and safe.
August 30, 2024
My Review:
After The Music is the perfect book to kick off into the Autumn spooky season we are about to head into. I am not sure why I put this book off as long as I did but I found it truly fascinating. It had so many great things to the story overall. I loved the gothic theme to it, the almost haunted castle manor that the hero lives on in a island, then we have the theme of the Christmas season, with a blend of beauty and beast in a way. There is a solid haunting almost musical theme to the story. We also have such a tortured hero in this one and man he is the KING of broody heroes.
The setup is the the hero was married to a young woman who went crazy when she got consumed by ritualistic religion that was obsessive and cultish. They had two young children together, but when the hero lost his wife in the fire and got burned horribly in the attempt to save his children, he became a recluse and hid away. The heroine, Judith, is one of his closest childhood friends and the guardian over his children with him not capable of raising them. But when some dangerous things start to occur, she takes advantage of the Christmas season, to bring the children to their father, no matter how much he may protest, he is the best protection they have with their lives in danger.
Judith and Dillon reconnect and their chemistry burns just beneath the surface. We see that chemistry build, they really have some slight angst with each other, but really they just need to burn off some off their angst lol I loved the kids and the other members of the band that are part of the story. The villain was a true surprise, not who I expected at all.
The only downside to the story was the pacing. I was actually shocked I was struggling with a Feehan so much. I think part of this is more a reader issue than necessarily a book issue. I have really been struggling with reading lately and some of that is health issues. So I wouldn't be surprised if that is a big part of that. But I believe I have completed Feehan's backlist so lets CELEBRATE THAT!!! haha
After The Music is the perfect book to kick off into the Autumn spooky season we are about to head into. I am not sure why I put this book off as long as I did but I found it truly fascinating. It had so many great things to the story overall. I loved the gothic theme to it, the almost haunted castle manor that the hero lives on in a island, then we have the theme of the Christmas season, with a blend of beauty and beast in a way. There is a solid haunting almost musical theme to the story. We also have such a tortured hero in this one and man he is the KING of broody heroes.
The setup is the the hero was married to a young woman who went crazy when she got consumed by ritualistic religion that was obsessive and cultish. They had two young children together, but when the hero lost his wife in the fire and got burned horribly in the attempt to save his children, he became a recluse and hid away. The heroine, Judith, is one of his closest childhood friends and the guardian over his children with him not capable of raising them. But when some dangerous things start to occur, she takes advantage of the Christmas season, to bring the children to their father, no matter how much he may protest, he is the best protection they have with their lives in danger.
Judith and Dillon reconnect and their chemistry burns just beneath the surface. We see that chemistry build, they really have some slight angst with each other, but really they just need to burn off some off their angst lol I loved the kids and the other members of the band that are part of the story. The villain was a true surprise, not who I expected at all.
The only downside to the story was the pacing. I was actually shocked I was struggling with a Feehan so much. I think part of this is more a reader issue than necessarily a book issue. I have really been struggling with reading lately and some of that is health issues. So I wouldn't be surprised if that is a big part of that. But I believe I have completed Feehan's backlist so lets CELEBRATE THAT!!! haha
November 9, 2014
I'm thinking this was a re-read, it seemed familiar. The occult/spooky aspects were overdone and unnecessary. The writing was mediocre and the plot was laughably easy to solve. The motivation of the villain wasn't solid, so the assortment of dirty tricks felt like two different people were committing them, and that would have been much cooler. I think I'm going to read more of her books to see if my read on her as a writer is correct, I hope this is just a bad example.
July 17, 2016
This holiday story was okay but it was too full of characters thoughts and I skimmed a lot. It was so focused on an event that happened years ago and with all the weird stuff, I lost interest. Jessica takes her 13 year old twin charges to their estranged father Dillon who has been living in seclusion on his island.
December 20, 2012
I read this title many years ago when it was part of an anthology (A Very Gothic Christmas) and since then I've re-read it a few times. Ms. Feehan describes a world of Gothic splendor that you cannot help but become immersed in. In the aftermath of a horrible fire that left our hero scarred physically and mentally and the unsolved murder of his wife, Dillon Wentworth finally has the opportunity to rekindle with his long time love Jessica Fitzpatrick. It has been seven years since that fateful night and Jessica has a mission: to bring Dillon and his twin children back together again and to heal him with her love the way she's always dreamed of. She just has to convince him to come out of the dark and into the light.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for miracles at Christmas. I am also a bit biased since I've been a fan of Ms. Feehan for over 10 years now.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for miracles at Christmas. I am also a bit biased since I've been a fan of Ms. Feehan for over 10 years now.
February 13, 2016
So thrilled to read this Christine Feehan book and LOVE it, after giving up on all her other series for being too repetitive on plots, too verbose, too angsty, and just too frustrating to even try her last several books. This was the old Christine, the Christine I fell in love with and the Christine whose novels I couldn't get enough of. Yay!
November 17, 2016
Christine Feehan confuses the hell out of me.
She often - almost without fail - includes the worst archetypes of romance novel "heros", whose actions she then excuses with their depth of devotion to the leading female. Then she sprinkles in some genuinely interesting writing (quite the progressive take on mental illness!), and some atleast interesting mystery plot line.
However, what makes this a one-story rating for me is that the story was so unbearably disjointed that I forgot half the time what mystery we were solving. Additionally, for such a short novel she stuffed the plot with so much character development and associated red herrings that I lost interest.
I only finished it because I was close enough to being done, I felt it was worth it.
Ultimately, I do not believe I will be reading any more Feehan. I really enjoy her Sisters of the Heart series (with the exception of Firebound), but her writing tropes and archetypes are becoming too bothersome to warrant much more of my attention.
She often - almost without fail - includes the worst archetypes of romance novel "heros", whose actions she then excuses with their depth of devotion to the leading female. Then she sprinkles in some genuinely interesting writing (quite the progressive take on mental illness!), and some atleast interesting mystery plot line.
However, what makes this a one-story rating for me is that the story was so unbearably disjointed that I forgot half the time what mystery we were solving. Additionally, for such a short novel she stuffed the plot with so much character development and associated red herrings that I lost interest.
I only finished it because I was close enough to being done, I felt it was worth it.
Ultimately, I do not believe I will be reading any more Feehan. I really enjoy her Sisters of the Heart series (with the exception of Firebound), but her writing tropes and archetypes are becoming too bothersome to warrant much more of my attention.
August 15, 2020
If you read Feehan, you will recognize the personality of the hero and heroine. There seems to be parts missing--the plot progresses in hops: somehow Jessica and Dillon become really close really fast despite the fact that we are repeatedly told that Dillon is not the person he used to be, the revealed secrets don't have the impact they should on characters and the mystery, Brenda wants the kids to watch her clean up oil for some reason I can't understand, Brenda becomes a sympathetic character, etc. This reads like a short story rather than a full novel due to these missing segments. The bird at the end? Too much.
December 1, 2018
As Usual ...
I absolutely adored this book! Truly, Ms. Feehan, were you are concerned, I am never disappointed, nor do I have any more superlatives left.
I could write about your ability to bring me so far into a story, I am there. It's not the book boyfriend so many talk about, it is your ability to weave and bring a reader into the hero or heroine's place. You are a "magic person"!
So many years I lost my ability to read, and authors who brought it back to me have truly given me sanity for the last seven years. Thank you!
Karen
I absolutely adored this book! Truly, Ms. Feehan, were you are concerned, I am never disappointed, nor do I have any more superlatives left.
I could write about your ability to bring me so far into a story, I am there. It's not the book boyfriend so many talk about, it is your ability to weave and bring a reader into the hero or heroine's place. You are a "magic person"!
So many years I lost my ability to read, and authors who brought it back to me have truly given me sanity for the last seven years. Thank you!
Karen
February 26, 2019
Not as blantantly magical as most of Feehan's books, just a hint. Jessica Fitzpatrick and Dillion Wentworth are on an island with Dillon's twin children and his band. A shodowy figure leaving messages behind and while someone else is leaving deathly accidents for people to fall into. Jess has loved Dillion since she was a teenager. Dillion is scarred from a fire. While trying to overcome his personal issues, learn about his children again and work with his band once more he realizes how much he wants his family with Jess in it. Well written.
October 24, 2021
A short, fairly satisfying Christmas romance / mystery with a predictable conclusion. To be fair, I skimmed the intimate scenes as they did not add a whole lot of value to the overall story.
It's a three star read as the characters are not all the deep. There were also some quite annoying holes in the plot which definitely made the story less compelling than it could have been.
Overall, this one provides light entertainment but is rather forgettable.
It's a three star read as the characters are not all the deep. There were also some quite annoying holes in the plot which definitely made the story less compelling than it could have been.
Overall, this one provides light entertainment but is rather forgettable.
May 20, 2023
After the Music
Just the right amount or intrigue and romance, with a Christmas miracle to top it off.
I love Christine Feehan’s writing and I feel I read this at some point in the past, but I love the characters and their tortured souls. I love the light surrounding Jessica, Trevor and Tara and how that light seems to bring everyone out of the darkness. Well, almost everyone. Love can do that. Bring the light. Dillon and Jessica and the twins deserve that.
Just the right amount or intrigue and romance, with a Christmas miracle to top it off.
I love Christine Feehan’s writing and I feel I read this at some point in the past, but I love the characters and their tortured souls. I love the light surrounding Jessica, Trevor and Tara and how that light seems to bring everyone out of the darkness. Well, almost everyone. Love can do that. Bring the light. Dillon and Jessica and the twins deserve that.
April 16, 2021
This was the first Christine Feehan book I read. I always loved gothic stories, and thought this modern version brought back all of the elements of the traditional gothic novel. This story brings the reader dark happenings, tragedy, a spooky feel of the paranormal, a brooding hero and the woman who can see into his soul and bring him light. It’s a fun read that I highly recommend.
August 20, 2021
After the Music
Christine Feehan , has been one of my favorite authors . Starting with "Dark Carpathian " series. I fine her storytelling draws the readers into fantasy, romantic ,paranormal, heart warming, with laugh out loud moments. This novel doesn't fall short of a worthy read. What a great story . Full of mystery and a ghostly presents.
Christine Feehan , has been one of my favorite authors . Starting with "Dark Carpathian " series. I fine her storytelling draws the readers into fantasy, romantic ,paranormal, heart warming, with laugh out loud moments. This novel doesn't fall short of a worthy read. What a great story . Full of mystery and a ghostly presents.
June 22, 2022
I love the stories this author tells. This is about a musician who a the top loses everything and is trying to rebuilt. Jessie has been helping to take care of his kids when accidents begin to happen. she takes them home to Dillion and more things start happening. An amazing store about love, vengeance, redemption, and family.
January 1, 2018
This is a classic "group of people stuck on an island, weird things are going on, who is responsible" thriller. There is a healthy amount of romance and some family healing & redemption thrown in. I was guessing almost until the end which raises my rating.
March 4, 2018
Who Done It
This is an a different sort of book for Feehan. There are no people from another race with strange powers or men who have ghost-like abilities. It is a simple story of a man who has great tragedy in his life and overcomes it through the power of a woman's love.
This is an a different sort of book for Feehan. There are no people from another race with strange powers or men who have ghost-like abilities. It is a simple story of a man who has great tragedy in his life and overcomes it through the power of a woman's love.
January 17, 2019
Es una historia genial.
Me encanta que tiene suspenso e intriga y al final uno no espera dar con el malvado tan fácilmente, pero aquí fue obvio.
Un final feliz, como lo dice en el libro: Un milagro de navidad.
Me encanta que tiene suspenso e intriga y al final uno no espera dar con el malvado tan fácilmente, pero aquí fue obvio.
Un final feliz, como lo dice en el libro: Un milagro de navidad.
Read
August 10, 2021After the Music.
Christine did an awesome job. I was on the edge of my seat . wonder what was going to happen next. I fell in love with Dillion and Jessica. I can't wait to start another book
Christine did an awesome job. I was on the edge of my seat . wonder what was going to happen next. I fell in love with Dillion and Jessica. I can't wait to start another book
August 28, 2021
Wow. Christine Feehan weaves amazing stores that draw you in and make you feel invested in the characters.
This one has you wondering who the hooded figure is and who is leaving the strange symbols and open windows. It a story of family and betrayal but also of love from beyond. A great read!
This one has you wondering who the hooded figure is and who is leaving the strange symbols and open windows. It a story of family and betrayal but also of love from beyond. A great read!
September 24, 2021
I saw a comment about this book on the CF Facebook fan page and found it on my Kobo plus page - so glad I downloaded it it was really good, worth the read and kept you guessing about who the bad guy was.
December 14, 2021
DNF @ 31%.
Nope. Not my cup of chai and certainly not the kind of romantic Yule story I had been expecting…actually, a cup of chai would have more spice than this book. Heck, eggnog would be spicier.
I’m now going on the hunt for a truly romantic holiday read.
Nope. Not my cup of chai and certainly not the kind of romantic Yule story I had been expecting…actually, a cup of chai would have more spice than this book. Heck, eggnog would be spicier.
I’m now going on the hunt for a truly romantic holiday read.
January 7, 2022
This one was ok, I couldn't really connect with the main H, Dillion, didn't like his choices at times, I liked the h and the twins, I feel they stole the show. A little bit of a mystery and drama in this quick read. Was a bit on the short side but enjoyable still.
Overall an ok read.
Overall an ok read.
December 26, 2023
This has been a Christmas re-read for me for years.
I love Jessica's relationship with the twins. It feels natural and nurturing.
Her relationships with everyone else feel a little forced.
I liked the mystery and the culprit.
And I will continue to re-read this for many more years.
I love Jessica's relationship with the twins. It feels natural and nurturing.
Her relationships with everyone else feel a little forced.
I liked the mystery and the culprit.
And I will continue to re-read this for many more years.
November 3, 2024
Tiene suspenso, tiene romance, tiene erótica, tiene buenos personajes.
Es la mezcla perfecta de lectura para enlazar las fiestas de Halloween con Navidad.
Excelente narración, es una lectura rápida y fluida.
Le doy 5 estrellas.
Es la mezcla perfecta de lectura para enlazar las fiestas de Halloween con Navidad.
Excelente narración, es una lectura rápida y fluida.
Le doy 5 estrellas.
April 5, 2025
Nice read
I liked the mystery and fantasy woven into the story. I enjoy a not so perfect hero and women with strength. Christine always offers both and again she did not disappoint.
I liked the mystery and fantasy woven into the story. I enjoy a not so perfect hero and women with strength. Christine always offers both and again she did not disappoint.
January 5, 2018
While I really enjoyed a lot of the character development I didn’t enjoy the book much, overall.
March 18, 2018
Great pace, storyline and characters. I loved the suspense and questioning of who was the villain as I read the story. Each detail had me thinking it was someone else!
April 21, 2019
not bad
I enjoying the solid writing a simple love story. Hope that is in everyone. Thanks for the gift Ms Feehan.
I enjoying the solid writing a simple love story. Hope that is in everyone. Thanks for the gift Ms Feehan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews